The Arizona sentinel., 1887-11-26
MIR. CLOVER'S GIFT.
The Thanksgiving It Made in the
 Deacon's House.

Two smiling middle-aged faces looked at one another across the libra- " table. Mir. Clover was accounting 10 his wife the prospects of success that had opened in his business this fall. "Yes, my dear" he said, ''wo must do something unusual by way of Thanksgiving offering this year. What shall it be?"
 How much shall it be? first" said Mrs. Clover.
 Well, say thousand; we can spare it as well as not
 '.I know what I'd like to do-have the church re-frescoed and some new carpets put in. That stained ceiling and that worn path up the center aisle do distress me-
 Every thing in Mrs CIover's house was fresh and shining Her eyes were spoiled at home for shabby things abroad.
 Well. I'd like to beautify the church." said Mir Clover. Til speak 10 some of the committee after prayer meeting and tell them what we pro- pose"
 Twill they let us?"
 Let us? We'll guess so."
 -'.And let us have some choice about colors and carpets, 1 hope?"
 ''Oh. you'll see; you'll have it all your own way"
 Mrs. Clover looked beaming. In . fact two very happy people went to prayer-necting that night
 Nice folks" said Ebenezer Grist the sexton, as he saw them pass up the aisle; but sometimes there's a leetle of the strut and crow about 'em. toor'
 Indeed, good Mir Clover was that minute meditating 8 little ThanksgiY- ing speech in the meeting. which per- haps might have had the echo of the ''crow'' only too audible in it for cap- tiOus ears.
 But the speech never was made; for he had not been five minutes in meet ing before there came some words out of the New Testament which seemed to pull his heart right down from its place of jubilation and stick it full of thorns. A shadow fell over his ruddy face. and his wife, who did not in the least understand it, immediately re- fected it in her own.
 The words which had this unhappy effect were these:
 Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar. and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.'
 And there sat, across the aisle, nearer the door, but still within reach of every uneasy side glance, brother who had something against MT. Clover. It was only poor old Deacon Simon. His face was thin and severe; his hands shook; his hair was white; his clothes were shabby. He had been made dea- con because of his burning zeal; but ihe severity of his spirit had not made him popular in the church. He was often at odds with his brethren. He scented heresy in every breeze He mourned over a church whose mem- bers sometimes allowed dancing and card-playing in their homes. and even took drives on the Sabbath. Poor Deacon Simon, who often stood alone teslifying for old ways of righteous ness. and whose sensitive spirit was so rasped by inc indifference with which his testimony was received!
 Only last month he had objected to children's October Sunday where there should be autumn leaves and kindred frivolities brought into church. Then Brother Clover, who looked so good-natured, but had choleric temper of his own upon occasions, had fired up and spoken nasty words to ihe good dea. b,n, words ne rude as blow, They hnd been received in silenceI they had never been HpologiEed tori there had been little intercourse between the two men since.
 T won't apologize" said Mir Clover now to himself T told him : ihe truth, and nothing else would have stopped his talk, and served our turn"
 If thy brother hath aught against thee'' hummed the unwelcome words in his mind.
 He was going to spoil good thing We couldn't stir hand or foot in this church if somebody didn't put down bis domineerins spirit I'm glad I T did ikn